Endoscope for use with a disposable sheath
First Claim
1. An endoscope for use with a disposable sheath having an elongated casing surrounding at least one channel, said endoscope comprising:
- a tip portion having an optics window;
a control handle having a set of controls for controlling the angular orientation of said tip portion;
an insertion tube extending between said tip portion and said control handle, said insertion tube including a resilient, D-shaped tube having a cylindrical portion extending between a substantially planar diameter portion, a braided tube enclosing said D-shaped tube, with the cylindrical portion of said D-shaped tube abutting said braided tube, said braided tube having formed therein a longitudinal groove extending inwardly from said braided tube diametrically opposite said D-shaped tube, and a coating of a flexible, waterproof material tightly surrounding the outer surface of said braided tube; and
an imaging system extending through said D-shaped tube from said control handle to said tip portion, whereby said sheath may be installed on said endoscope with said casing surrounding said insertion tube and said tip portion and said channel positioned in said groove.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An endoscope specially adapted for use with a disposable sheath having an outer casing and one or more internal channels. The endoscope includes a tip portion connected to a control handle through a flexible insertion tube. The insertion tube is formed by a braided wire tube covered by a flexible waterproof coating and surrounding a resilient D-shaped tube through which optical components for the endoscope extend. A longitudinally extending groove is formed in the braided tube to receive and channel(s). The groove extends perpendicular to, and makes contact with, a generally planar portion of the D-shaped tube so that the D-shaped tube can restrict deformation of the groove as the insertion tube bends. Longitudinal channels are formed on opposite sides of the groove to house control cables extending from the control handle to the tip portion. The cables are surrounded by tubes that collectively occupy the entire channel so that the tubes prevent the channel, and hence the groove, from collapsing.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An endoscope for use with a disposable sheath having an elongated casing surrounding at least one channel, said endoscope comprising:
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a tip portion having an optics window; a control handle having a set of controls for controlling the angular orientation of said tip portion; an insertion tube extending between said tip portion and said control handle, said insertion tube including a resilient, D-shaped tube having a cylindrical portion extending between a substantially planar diameter portion, a braided tube enclosing said D-shaped tube, with the cylindrical portion of said D-shaped tube abutting said braided tube, said braided tube having formed therein a longitudinal groove extending inwardly from said braided tube diametrically opposite said D-shaped tube, and a coating of a flexible, waterproof material tightly surrounding the outer surface of said braided tube; and an imaging system extending through said D-shaped tube from said control handle to said tip portion, whereby said sheath may be installed on said endoscope with said casing surrounding said insertion tube and said tip portion and said channel positioned in said groove. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An endoscope insertion tube for use with a disposable sheath having an elongated casing surrounding at least one channel, comprising:
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a generally cylindrical tube of braided, resilient material having a longitudinally extending groove formed therein configured to receive the channel of said sheath; a support member extending transversely across said braided tube along a diameter thereof that is generally perpendicular to the plane of said groove, said support member preventing deformation of said tube in said transverse direction; an imaging system extending through said braided tube on the side of said support member opposite said groove; and a flexible, resilient covering bonded to the outer surface of said braided tube. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A support member for use in the insertion tube of an endoscope, said support member comprising a plurality of concentric coils of resilient ribbon wire arranged with adjacent coils helically wound in opposite directions, each of said coils having a D-shaped cross section. .Iadd.
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25. An endoscope for use with a disposable sheath having an elongated casing and at least one channel extending along said casing, said endoscope comprising:
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a tip portion having an optics window; a control handle having a set of controls for controlling the angular orientation of said tip portion; an insertion tube extending between said tip portion and said control handle, said insertion tube extending a flexible tube having a non-cylindrical cross-section, a braided tube enclosing said flexible tube, and a coating of a flexible waterproof material tightly surrounding the outer surface of said braided tube; and an imaging system extending through said flexible tube from said control handle to said tip portion, whereby said sheath may be installed on said endoscope with said casing surrounding said insertion tube and said tip portion and said channel positioned against said flexible tube. .Iaddend. .Iadd. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification